Looking out for your next art purchase? Or wondering where you should be searching to kickstart your collection? Well, the world-class collectors we’ve been interviewing of late share their secrets. From artist studios and trusted galleries, to major auction houses and deals made over the phone, these are the go-to art hunting spots of seven influential collectors.

Jens Faurschou: Phone Call Purchaser & Art Fair Fan

Jens Faurschou. Image courtesy the Faurschou Foundation.

“I find myself more and more often purchasing art via the phone. When it comes to being physically present, Art Basel in Basel is my favorite art fair and the only place in the world where you get to witness the best of the world’s modern and contemporary art for sale in one location. We [my wife Masha and I] have made some good purchases there over the years. We also buy from auctions. Most recently, we got Mark Tansey’s Bridge Over the Cartesian Gap from Christie’s sale of Paul Allen’s collection.”

Nadia & Rajeeb Samdani: Supporting Studios

Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani. Image courtesy of Noor Photoface.

“Primarily galleries, fairs, and auctions, although more recently we have been working with artists and their studios to support Bangladeshi artists who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Juan Yarur Torres: Anywhere & Everywhere

Juan Yarur Torres. Image courtesy of the collector.

“Everywhere from artists to galleries to auctions, and we commission a lot. I recently bought a painting by the Chilean artist Juan Downey from his widow, Marilys Downey.”

Jordan Schnitzer: Major Auction Houses, Galleries, & the IFPDA

Jordan Schnitzer. Image courtesy of Jordan Schnitzer.

“The IFPDA Print Fair regularly features exceptional prints and we’ve collected from the fair over many years. I also work with a dozen galleries that feature artists that I collect such as Carolina Nitsch Contemporary Art, Matthew Marks Gallery, Alan Cristea Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Sikkema Jenkins, Lococo Fine Art, LA Louver, and James Cohan Gallery. And of course I have long-standing relationships with all the auction houses like Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Bonhams, and Phillips.”

Shane Akeroyd: Close With Sadie Coles

Shane Akeroyd. Photo by Noam Shefi.

“Galleries I am close to. Sadie Coles HQ has been the closest for a long time. I’ve been thinking a lot about Martine Syms, Diego Marcon, and Aki Sasamoto at the moment, and Joan Jonas and Mark Leckey, who have paved the way for so many. Away from moving images, Sarah Lucas is my all-time favorite.”

Miwa Taguchi: Preparatory Research at Museums, Fairs, & Festivals

Miwa Taguchi. Courtesy of the collector.

“Recently, I have been buying works from Jack Shainman Gallery, Goodman Gallery, Massimo de Carlo, Peres Projects, Kukje Gallery, TARO NASU, nichido contemporary art, ANOMALY, NANZUKA. Most of the time we purchase art at galleries; however, we also try as hard as possible to understand work by visiting as many museums shows, art fairs and sometimes art festivals.”

Jéssica Cinel: Secondary Market Deals

The collector at home. Image courtesy Jéssica Cinel.

“Mostly from primary art galleries, also at art fairs like SP-Arte, Art Basel Miami Beach, and Frieze London. And when there is great opportunity, from secondary market deals or at auctions.”